Comments on: Even if pigs could fly… – The answer to the call centers + Sanjaya theory [updated with videos] http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Keeping it real, desi ishtyle. Discussing all things, Indian and Indian-American. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:06:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: » ÃœberDesi is a year old and we need you to delurk. - Ãœber Desi http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-532 » ÃœberDesi is a year old and we need you to delurk. - Ãœber Desi Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:26:07 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-532 [...] The last year has been amazing, when we started, we had no expectations. In fact if you go back to the start, it was Santosh and I commenting on each other’s posts. Then Sanjaya happened. [...] [...] The last year has been amazing, when we started, we had no expectations. In fact if you go back to the start, it was Santosh and I commenting on each other’s posts. Then Sanjaya happened. [...]

]]> By: Who you calling a Bigot? Bigot. : uber desi dot com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Who you calling a Bigot? Bigot. : uber desi dot com Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:16:59 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-531 [...] When Uber Desi was implicated by a few tabloids as the shady organizer of a coordinated campaign to get call centers to support Sanjaya Malakar, we were unhappy, but we understood that these were tabloids and twisting words was a part of the game they play. Later when those tabloids were quoted by other credible blogs, we had to react. If MSNBC were a tabloid, no one should or would care. But they are not. And that is why this is so disturbing. [...] [...] When Uber Desi was implicated by a few tabloids as the shady organizer of a coordinated campaign to get call centers to support Sanjaya Malakar, we were unhappy, but we understood that these were tabloids and twisting words was a part of the game they play. Later when those tabloids were quoted by other credible blogs, we had to react. If MSNBC were a tabloid, no one should or would care. But they are not. And that is why this is so disturbing. [...]

]]> By: This week in American Idol: The UberDesi tapes : uber desi dot com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-530 This week in American Idol: The UberDesi tapes : uber desi dot com Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:54:44 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-530 [...] Setting: Small 1 bedroom apartment in suburban New Jersey. Bollywood song playing on TV as the smell of chicken tikka masala cooking in the background wafts to your nostrils. Four men huddle around a phone speaking in foreign tongues in hushed tones. Sound of dial tone on the speakerphone as a number is punched in 1-800-DSI-STUD. Person picks up on the other end (in heavily accented voice): “Hello! This is Scott at Acme Computer Support in Wyoming. How can I help you today?”. Santosh: “Hey Apu! It’s me Santosh from UberDesi. I also have Karthik, Anantha and Sambol here.”. Apu: “Hey guys! What are you doing?” The guys: “Hey Apu! What are you doing?” Apu: “Nothing much kuttas. Just chomping on some chivda, waiting for American Idol to start.” Santosh: “Cool. But I thought American Idol was not aired live in India.” Apu: “Ever heard of the Internet, Einstein?” Anantha: “The one that Mumbai police is using to crack down on Salman haters?” Apu: “Yea same one, machchan.” Karthik: “Al Gore invented the Internet …….” Sambol: “I use the dating websites on the Internet to search for the meaning of love …..” Apu: “Anyway …………… we were hoping you guys at UberDesi could post the number to call in for this Sanjaya guy on American Idol.” Santosh: “Howard Stern and VFTW already do that.” Apu: “But I want information from Indian website only. I dont read American websites.” Karthik: “Then why are you following an American show - American Idol, hello?” Sambol: “His sister is hot.” Santosh: “Yes this blogger, Patrix, has promised to send me photoshopped pictures of Shyamali …….. he he he he …….. nude. Shhhhh don’t tell anyone …. he he he.” Apu: “He is half-Indian.” Anantha: “His father is Marathi?” Apu: “No. Bengali. Sanjaya means victory. We must support all Indians since India invented music.” Karthik: “You mean like Al Gore invented the Internet?” Apu: “Yes da. I will ask everyone at my call center to stop everything else and call in to vote for Sanjaya. So what if India didn’t win the Cricket World Cup? We will make sure an Indian wins American Idol.” Sambol: “Speaking of the cricket world cup, I was in Jamaica maan. Love is blossoming there……..” Santosh: “Yea dawg. I heard the beaches are awesome. Got any pics?” Anantha: “Here’s a trivia: The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground….” Apu: (getting impatient) “Sanjaya is Indian. We have to make sure he wins American Idol.” Karthik: “Stop BSing us man, Apu. Even if pigs could fly there is no way you could muster all those resources to vote for American Idol. There are no TVs where you work. Your Internet access is limited. You are chargeable by the second if not the minute. There is no way a kid fresh out of the college like you can organize such a massive grassroots campaign in the Indian call centers. Even if you get a hundred people to dial in, they will be outnumbered by the teenage girls and their pink cellphones in Hoboken, NJ. Consequently, as a transposition to the conjecture, Indian call centers cannot vote for Sanjaya.” Santosh: “You make too much sense man. Someone fix him a glass of Old Monk.” Apu: “But American tabloids have been speculating this for ages. So it must be possible.” Karthik: “Hold on. We’re getting another call. (switches line). Hello?” (Godfather intro music plays in background) Don: “Mamma mia! This is Vito Corleone. I heard you guys are getting call centers in India to vote for Sanjaya.” Santosh: “Huh? Who told you that?” Don: “Luca Brasi said he read some tabloids.” Karthik: “Just because Al Gore invented the Internet, doesn’t mean everything printed on the Internet is true.” Don: “I’ll make you an offer you cant refuse. A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Santosh: “What does that have to do with anything?” Don: “I just thought it sounded molto cool. Anyway I want you to know that you guys have my support. Sonny is “talking” to this guy Howard Stern and Clemenza is working on this “website” VFTW. Sanjaya is half-Italian which means he is family and ….” Sambol: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Don: “Now you’re talking. I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should be listening.” Anantha (annoyed): “Can you stop quoting from the movie please? You’re spoiling my trivia questions.” Don: “It makes no difference to me what a man does for a living, understand. (click)” Santosh: “That went well. Now I guess we better convince these call center guys to do it or we’ll be sleeping with the fish.” Karthik: “Apu, you still there?” Apu: “But I don’t eat fish. I’m vegetarian. Most Indians are vegetarians. Is Sanjaya vegetarian?” Santosh: “Hold on I’m getting a text message.” Text Message from Pimply13yearOldTeen: “OMFG! Snjya iz da bomb! Snjya wil win Amrcn Idol!! So cute!!!!!!! I wil die if Snjya dont win!!!!” Karthik: “Did you hear about the girl who went on a hunger strike to vote him off?” Sambol: “Poor girl! She must be heartbroke from last week’s results.” Anantha: “She’s probably suffering from heartburn because of hunger.” Santosh: “Even she stopped starving herself. I guess its the tabloids that are starving right now,” Apu: “So are we doing this or not, my fellow Indians?” Sambol: “I’m Sri Lankan…..” Apu: “What? Is this a NRI website?” Santosh: “Well, since Sambol is Sri Lankan, that makes him a NRL……” Apu: “You guys are not true Indians!” Text Message from Pimply13yearOldTeen: “WTF! If u don’t vot 4 Snjya I will kill u all mf!!!!” Anantha: “Apu, did you know Sanjaya was half-Italian?” Apu: “He is half-Indian. We must vote for Indians. India invented music……” Karthik: “Like Al Gore invented the Intenet…..” Santosh: “Hate to cut this short guys. My wife just called. She wanted me to pick up a gallon of milk and paper towels from CVS a.s.a.p!!! Bye!” Disclaimer: Some names in here are real and some are fictional just to make fun of the tabloids that repeatedy keep pointing to our posts as suspicious. Apu, of course, is the name for an Indian stereotype based on the Simpson’s. Hey, if people can stereotype us and allege that we are tied to call centers, we are allow to stereotype ourselves. american idol, blogs, humoramerican idol, blogs, humorOther posts in HumorGood fashion sense, not so good governance. - December 6th, 2006Funny anecdote - January 2nd, 2007Village of the (Sad)damned - January 9th, 2007The test of Chopstick - January 11th, 2007$22 per child - January 12th, 2007Popularity: 5% [?]Share This [...] [...] Setting: Small 1 bedroom apartment in suburban New Jersey. Bollywood song playing on TV as the smell of chicken tikka masala cooking in the background wafts to your nostrils. Four men huddle around a phone speaking in foreign tongues in hushed tones. Sound of dial tone on the speakerphone as a number is punched in 1-800-DSI-STUD. Person picks up on the other end (in heavily accented voice): “Hello! This is Scott at Acme Computer Support in Wyoming. How can I help you today?”. Santosh: “Hey Apu! It’s me Santosh from UberDesi. I also have Karthik, Anantha and Sambol here.”. Apu: “Hey guys! What are you doing?” The guys: “Hey Apu! What are you doing?” Apu: “Nothing much kuttas. Just chomping on some chivda, waiting for American Idol to start.” Santosh: “Cool. But I thought American Idol was not aired live in India.” Apu: “Ever heard of the Internet, Einstein?” Anantha: “The one that Mumbai police is using to crack down on Salman haters?” Apu: “Yea same one, machchan.” Karthik: “Al Gore invented the Internet …….” Sambol: “I use the dating websites on the Internet to search for the meaning of love …..” Apu: “Anyway …………… we were hoping you guys at UberDesi could post the number to call in for this Sanjaya guy on American Idol.” Santosh: “Howard Stern and VFTW already do that.” Apu: “But I want information from Indian website only. I dont read American websites.” Karthik: “Then why are you following an American show – American Idol, hello?” Sambol: “His sister is hot.” Santosh: “Yes this blogger, Patrix, has promised to send me photoshopped pictures of Shyamali …….. he he he he …….. nude. Shhhhh don’t tell anyone …. he he he.” Apu: “He is half-Indian.” Anantha: “His father is Marathi?” Apu: “No. Bengali. Sanjaya means victory. We must support all Indians since India invented music.” Karthik: “You mean like Al Gore invented the Internet?” Apu: “Yes da. I will ask everyone at my call center to stop everything else and call in to vote for Sanjaya. So what if India didn’t win the Cricket World Cup? We will make sure an Indian wins American Idol.” Sambol: “Speaking of the cricket world cup, I was in Jamaica maan. Love is blossoming there……..” Santosh: “Yea dawg. I heard the beaches are awesome. Got any pics?” Anantha: “Here’s a trivia: The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground….” Apu: (getting impatient) “Sanjaya is Indian. We have to make sure he wins American Idol.” Karthik: “Stop BSing us man, Apu. Even if pigs could fly there is no way you could muster all those resources to vote for American Idol. There are no TVs where you work. Your Internet access is limited. You are chargeable by the second if not the minute. There is no way a kid fresh out of the college like you can organize such a massive grassroots campaign in the Indian call centers. Even if you get a hundred people to dial in, they will be outnumbered by the teenage girls and their pink cellphones in Hoboken, NJ. Consequently, as a transposition to the conjecture, Indian call centers cannot vote for Sanjaya.” Santosh: “You make too much sense man. Someone fix him a glass of Old Monk.” Apu: “But American tabloids have been speculating this for ages. So it must be possible.” Karthik: “Hold on. We’re getting another call. (switches line). Hello?” (Godfather intro music plays in background) Don: “Mamma mia! This is Vito Corleone. I heard you guys are getting call centers in India to vote for Sanjaya.” Santosh: “Huh? Who told you that?” Don: “Luca Brasi said he read some tabloids.” Karthik: “Just because Al Gore invented the Internet, doesn’t mean everything printed on the Internet is true.” Don: “I’ll make you an offer you cant refuse. A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Santosh: “What does that have to do with anything?” Don: “I just thought it sounded molto cool. Anyway I want you to know that you guys have my support. Sonny is “talking” to this guy Howard Stern and Clemenza is working on this “website” VFTW. Sanjaya is half-Italian which means he is family and ….” Sambol: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Don: “Now you’re talking. I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should be listening.” Anantha (annoyed): “Can you stop quoting from the movie please? You’re spoiling my trivia questions.” Don: “It makes no difference to me what a man does for a living, understand. (click)” Santosh: “That went well. Now I guess we better convince these call center guys to do it or we’ll be sleeping with the fish.” Karthik: “Apu, you still there?” Apu: “But I don’t eat fish. I’m vegetarian. Most Indians are vegetarians. Is Sanjaya vegetarian?” Santosh: “Hold on I’m getting a text message.” Text Message from Pimply13yearOldTeen: “OMFG! Snjya iz da bomb! Snjya wil win Amrcn Idol!! So cute!!!!!!! I wil die if Snjya dont win!!!!” Karthik: “Did you hear about the girl who went on a hunger strike to vote him off?” Sambol: “Poor girl! She must be heartbroke from last week’s results.” Anantha: “She’s probably suffering from heartburn because of hunger.” Santosh: “Even she stopped starving herself. I guess its the tabloids that are starving right now,” Apu: “So are we doing this or not, my fellow Indians?” Sambol: “I’m Sri Lankan…..” Apu: “What? Is this a NRI website?” Santosh: “Well, since Sambol is Sri Lankan, that makes him a NRL……” Apu: “You guys are not true Indians!” Text Message from Pimply13yearOldTeen: “WTF! If u don’t vot 4 Snjya I will kill u all mf!!!!” Anantha: “Apu, did you know Sanjaya was half-Italian?” Apu: “He is half-Indian. We must vote for Indians. India invented music……” Karthik: “Like Al Gore invented the Intenet…..” Santosh: “Hate to cut this short guys. My wife just called. She wanted me to pick up a gallon of milk and paper towels from CVS a.s.a.p!!! Bye!” Disclaimer: Some names in here are real and some are fictional just to make fun of the tabloids that repeatedy keep pointing to our posts as suspicious. Apu, of course, is the name for an Indian stereotype based on the Simpson’s. Hey, if people can stereotype us and allege that we are tied to call centers, we are allow to stereotype ourselves. american idol, blogs, humoramerican idol, blogs, humorOther posts in HumorGood fashion sense, not so good governance. – December 6th, 2006Funny anecdote – January 2nd, 2007Village of the (Sad)damned – January 9th, 2007The test of Chopstick – January 11th, 2007$22 per child – January 12th, 2007Popularity: 5% [?]Share This [...]

]]> By: Sepia Mutiny http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-529 Sepia Mutiny Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:35:50 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-529 <strong>"Sanjaya is my Papaya."...</strong> Last week (or the week before it, perhaps?) when American Idol’s cameras panned across the audience, I saw a “fanjaya” holding a sign which proclaimed: “Sanjaya is my Papaya”. Love it. It’s delightfully absurd, inni... “Sanjaya is my Papaya.”…

Last week (or the week before it, perhaps?) when American Idol’s cameras panned across the audience, I saw a “fanjaya” holding a sign which proclaimed: “Sanjaya is my Papaya”. Love it. It’s delightfully absurd, inni…

]]> By: PaulSpoerry.com » American Idol Sanjaya fever - Call centers keeping him? Video spoofs! http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-528 PaulSpoerry.com » American Idol Sanjaya fever - Call centers keeping him? Video spoofs! Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:12:08 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-528 [...] I have a word for Sanjaya… UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE. Maybe that’s three words? I’m to the point where I either need to stop watching (my mother in law did after they booted Chris off last season) or start pulling for this kid to win. There are a bunch of theories as to why he’s winning, my two favorite are Vote for the Worst and the idea that Indian call centers are swinging the vote his way. “Vote for the Worst encourages you to have fun with American Idol and embrace its suckiness by voting for the people who the general public and the producers are rooting against. We rally behind one choice so that we can help make a difference and pool all of our votes toward one common goal.” The Indian call center theory, which I even mentioned to my wife prior to hearing about it on the net, has the most sizzle. Some claim that it’s impossible because of time zone differences, not being aired live, and the voting period being in prime “call center” business hours. But then again Wikipedia says this so maybe it could be possible: [...] [...] I have a word for Sanjaya… UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE. Maybe that’s three words? I’m to the point where I either need to stop watching (my mother in law did after they booted Chris off last season) or start pulling for this kid to win. There are a bunch of theories as to why he’s winning, my two favorite are Vote for the Worst and the idea that Indian call centers are swinging the vote his way. “Vote for the Worst encourages you to have fun with American Idol and embrace its suckiness by voting for the people who the general public and the producers are rooting against. We rally behind one choice so that we can help make a difference and pool all of our votes toward one common goal.” The Indian call center theory, which I even mentioned to my wife prior to hearing about it on the net, has the most sizzle. Some claim that it’s impossible because of time zone differences, not being aired live, and the voting period being in prime “call center” business hours. But then again Wikipedia says this so maybe it could be possible: [...]

]]> By: Audiofile - Salon http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-527 Audiofile - Salon Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:09:37 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-527 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] What sparked the call-center allegations? Apparently nothing more than an almost month-old posting on the Uber Desi Indian culture blog that gave the phone number to call and vote for Malakar as well as a disclaimer reminding people they could vote multiple times. Add in the fact that some of the "Idol" votes are processed by call centers in India, and voilà!, you have yourself a conspiracy theory -- one that Uber Desi quickly, and perhaps rightly, denounced as logistically ridiculous and tinged with a bit of racism. "What I do care about is the unproven assertion that those devious, foreign call centers are responsible for yet another activity which harms 'real Americans,'" writes Uber Desi blogger Karthik. "The nefariousness we sense -- unlike the inconsequential outcome of a television show -- has real and painful repercussions, for Sanjaya and everyone who looks like or allegedly votes for him." [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] What sparked the call-center allegations? Apparently nothing more than an almost month-old posting on the Uber Desi Indian culture blog that gave the phone number to call and vote for Malakar as well as a disclaimer reminding people they could vote multiple times. Add in the fact that some of the “Idol” votes are processed by call centers in India, and voilà!, you have yourself a conspiracy theory — one that Uber Desi quickly, and perhaps rightly, denounced as logistically ridiculous and tinged with a bit of racism. “What I do care about is the unproven assertion that those devious, foreign call centers are responsible for yet another activity which harms ‘real Americans,’” writes Uber Desi blogger Karthik. “The nefariousness we sense — unlike the inconsequential outcome of a television show — has real and painful repercussions, for Sanjaya and everyone who looks like or allegedly votes for him.” [...]

]]> By: And it gets better - Starving to vote Sanjaya out. : uber desi dot com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-524 And it gets better - Starving to vote Sanjaya out. : uber desi dot com Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:34:00 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-524 [...] Posted by Karthik on March 18, 2007Filed Under Entertainment, Humor, Brown Spotting, Opinion, Brown in America, Culture, Blogs, American Idol, media watch | « « Previous Post: Even if pigs could fly… - The answer to the call centers + Sanjaya theory [...] [...] Posted by Karthik on March 18, 2007Filed Under Entertainment, Humor, Brown Spotting, Opinion, Brown in America, Culture, Blogs, American Idol, media watch | « « Previous Post: Even if pigs could fly… – The answer to the call centers + Sanjaya theory [...]

]]> By: American Idol: Sanjaya update : uber desi dot com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-523 American Idol: Sanjaya update : uber desi dot com Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:20:12 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-523 [...] [UPDATE] Seriously… We cannot be supporting Sanjaya, see our reasons here. [...] [...] [UPDATE] Seriously… We cannot be supporting Sanjaya, see our reasons here. [...]

]]> By: tabloid baby http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-525 tabloid baby Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-525 <!--%kramer-pre%--> about suspicions that Sanjaya's voting bloc was the Desi (South Asian) community here and outsourced call centers in India. In the days after our report was picked up by media around world, Uberdesi writes: "First off, AI cannot be broadcast LIVE in India. Everything is time-delayed... It is highly improbable for a TV to be present in a call center environment; do you watch reality programming when you are at your job? Even if there is a TV that did<!--%kramer-post%--> about suspicions that Sanjaya’s voting bloc was the Desi (South Asian) community here and outsourced call centers in India. In the days after our report was picked up by media around world, Uberdesi writes: “First off, AI cannot be broadcast LIVE in India. Everything is time-delayed… It is highly improbable for a TV to be present in a call center environment; do you watch reality programming when you are at your job? Even if there is a TV that did

]]> By: TVgasm: The Best Recaps, News, and Gossip in Television http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/03/18/even-if-pigs-could-fly-the-answer-to-the-call-centers-sanjaya-theory/comment-page-1/#comment-526 TVgasm: The Best Recaps, News, and Gossip in Television Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=364#comment-526 <!--%kramer-pre%--> about suspicions that Sanjaya's voting bloc was the Desi (South Asian) community here and outsourced call centers in India. In the days after the TVgasm report was picked up by media around world, Uberdesi writes: "First off, AI cannot be broadcast LIVE in India. Everything is time-delayed... It is highly improbable for a TV to be present in a call center environment; do you watch reality programming when you are at your job? Even if there is a TV that did<!--%kramer-post%--> about suspicions that Sanjaya’s voting bloc was the Desi (South Asian) community here and outsourced call centers in India. In the days after the TVgasm report was picked up by media around world, Uberdesi writes: “First off, AI cannot be broadcast LIVE in India. Everything is time-delayed… It is highly improbable for a TV to be present in a call center environment; do you watch reality programming when you are at your job? Even if there is a TV that did

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